Mechanism for beveling planks or the like



July 4,1961 E. F. MACKS ETAL 2,990,861

MECHANISM FOR BEVELING PLANKS OR THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 10, 19A 3, QL/ i f/5IATZ 0 INVENTOR5 ELMER FRED MACKSWILBERT M. BURGETT L/Mm ATTORNEYS y 1961 E. F. MACKS ETAL 2,990,861

MECHANISM FOR BEVELING PLANKS OR THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1959 2Sheets-Sheet 2 w cm? II 6/ IO FIG. 5

INVENTORS ELMER FRED MACKS ATTORNEYS United S at s. Pa e F 2,990,861 FORBEVELING PLANKS OR THE LIKE Elmer Fred Macks and Wilbert M. Bnrgett,Vermilion,

Ohio, assignors to Marine Development & Research, Inc., a corporation ofOhio Filed Apr. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 806,961

a 19 Claims. (Cl. 144-136) Thisyinvention pertains to tooling, and moreparticu larly to amethod of, and apparatus for, beveling planks, orthelike.

In lap-strake-boat construction, as one example, the planks which. formthe strakes have beveled surfaces. These-beveled surfaces are normallyspiral-like or what may be referred to as compound curves. The curvesare compound both in that a plank for lap-strake-boat construc'tion isnormally curvilinear before it is beveled, and in that the angle betweenthe beveled surface and the face of a plank will vary from one end ofthe plank to the other.

In the past, beveling of curvilinear planks for lap-strake constructionhas normally been accomplished in one of two ways. The first of these isby a hand technique where the craftsman individually bevels and fitseach plank. This results in each boat, or other article using compoundbeveling, being a custom built object. The second better known techniqueutilized in production has been to provide a series of jigs. Two jigsare designed and. built for each plank to be beveled for each boatdesign. Thus, if a boat manufacturer made, as an example, two sizes oflap-strake boats of, say 16 and 20 foot lengths, he would have two ormore jigs for each plank of each boat. Thus, this sample manufacturermight have forty or fifty jigs to permit quantity production of boats ofonly two lengths. Yet, any change of boat designcan result in a completeobsolescence of an entire set of jigs.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the discussed and otherprior techniques for beveling curvilinear planks through the provisionof an adjustable jig. A. bed is provided for holding a plank. First andsecond adjustable guides are positioned on either side of the plank. Theguides are positioned through the use of suitable gauges. A router ismoved along the guide rails after they have been positioned. An infinitevariation in plank beveling is obtainable with a single jig.

A further advantage is obtained by providing a plurality of gauge blocksof various sizes. A mechanic can set the jig for a given plank byselecting appropriate gauge blocks from the provided group of gaugeblocks. Thus, it is not even necessary to provide a set of gauge blocksfor a given plank design. It is only necessary to knowwhich of astandard assortment of gauge blocks should he used to compile a set fora given plank.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this inven- 2,990,861?Patented .Iuly 4,v 1961 2 gauge block when the adjustable are beinglocated for beveling a given plank.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedadjustable jig having two adjustable guides, one of which is adjustablein a single plane, and the other of which is adjustable along a pair ofpaths, one of which paths is parallel to and the otherof which istransverse to such single plane. Y

A more special object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved jig having a bed and supported guides which are adjustabletogether, within predetermined limits, to any angle with the horizontal,thereby being posi tionable to suit the comfort'of the operator.

Another more special object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved router for use with an adjustable and tiltable jig, in whichfirst and second rolling contact bearings are provided to follow one ofthe guides, and a slide bearing is provided to follow the other of theguides.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved method of beveling planks for boat construction.

A related object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedmethod of beveling planks for lap-strakeboat' construction wherein allof such planks are beveled on a single adjustable jig.

I Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedmethod of adjusting a jig.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one of the novel and improved adjustablejigs;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional .view as seen from a transverse plane of crosssection and on an enlarged scale with respect to FIGURE 1 and showing arouter in position on the jig;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, on an en-' larged scale withrespect to FIGURE 1, and as seen from a plane indicated by the line 3--3of FIGURE 2, of a portion of the jig and a router on that portion;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the device on an enlarged scale withrespect to FIGURE 1 and as seen from a transverse plane of cross sectionshowing the use of gauges to position the adjustable jig; and,

I EIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a selectable stop used tolocate a selected plank on the bed.

tion is to provlde a novel and improved adjustable jig for bevelingplanks.

A related principal object of this invention is to provide a novel andimproved adjustable jig for use in beveling curvilinear planks or thelike.

1 Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved jigwhich is adjustable to a predeterminedcontour through the use of gaugeblocks.

Another related object of the invention is to'provide a novel andimproved adjustable jig wherein the gauge thereafter usedasan indexingguide for a transverse L 1 particular contour.

Referring to the drawings, a jig bed is shown generally at 10 in eachfigure. A plank 11 is located on the bed 10 on a work station. In thepreferred and disclosed arrangement as disclosed in FIGURE 1, the bed 10and the structure supported thereon are symmetrical about thelongitudinal center line of the bed such that each side is. a mirrorimage of the other. For clarity of illustra tion one-half of the jigwill be described in detail with the mirror image parts being designatedby a corresponding numeral plus the letter A. Thus, a port plank 11A isshown which is the mirror image of the starboard plank 11. Theadvantages of this construction will subse quently be described indetail.

The plank is positioned in the selected work station by afixed stop 12and removableseleoted stop 13. The removable stop 13 is referred to as aselected stop, because it is a particular stop designed to coact withthe fixed stop 12 to locate a plank of a predetermined and. One suchremovable stop is provided for each plank to be beveled. I

- Whenthe jig is being set up for a given plank, an appropriateremovable stop-13 is selected from a group f of-assorted of stops andfixed to thebed 10. The: removable stop'1-3 serves as a gauge stop for agiven planks" The removable stop 13 has suitable locating dowels 60,FIGURE 5, which are positioned in matching holes formed in the bed 10.The selected removable stop is suitably held in position as by.threading a wing nut 61 ontoa threaded'stud 62. V p

A plurality of clamps 14 are'fixe'd to the bed 10. The c1arn'p's'14 fixthe plank 11 in position after the plank has beenlocated by the stops12, 13. The clamps '14 have a substantial transverse dimension to permitthem to hold any plank having any one of a wide variety of contours. Aswill be apparent to a mechanic skilled in the art, other suitable manualor powered clamp means may be employed. 7

The bed is preferably supported by front and rear supports 15, 16 whichare mounted'on a base 17. The supports 15, 16 are pivotally connected tothe bed 10. The supports 15, 16 are vertically adjustable topermit thebed 10 and the parts connected to the bed to be adjusted to any desiredangle with the horizontal. The adjustment for the front support iscomparable to the rear support 16, but not shown. This permits theentire jig to be placed in a position which is comfortable for theoperator.

Front and rear flexible guides 19, 20 are provided and supported above.the bed 10. The guides 19, 20 provide guides for a router support 21.The router support 21 has a slide bearing 22 of nylon, Teflon or othersuitable low friction material for facile guide slide movement of thesupport 21 along the guide 20.

In the preferred and disclosed arrangement a pair of rolling contactbearings 23, 24 are carried at the front of the router support 21. Thebearing 23 may be referred to as a vertical bearing, since it normallyreceives the major portion of the vertical load'imposed on the frontguide 19 by the router assembly. The other bearing 24 may be referred toas a lateral support roller, since it provides lateral positioning ofthe router support 21 and the remainder of the router assembly. Thebearings 23, 24 are preferably positioned with'their axes normal to oneanother and in a common plane which is longitudinal of the support 21.The axes of the bearings 23, 24 are also substantially normal to theaxes of the front guide 19 when the device is in operation.

The router assembly has a router motor which includes a housing 25mounted on the router support 21. A shaft 26, driven by the motor,carries a routing tool 27.-

As will be seen in the drawings, the fiont guide 19 is preferable curvedand will normally have an elevation, with respect to the bed 10, whichvaries from one end to the other. In the preferred and disclosedarrangement, the rear guide 20is straight but may also have a varyingelevation along its length with respect to the bed 10. Through atechnique which will subsequently be. described in detail, the guides19, 20'rnay be positioned to provide predetermined guide paths for therouter.

When the plank 11 is clamped in position, the router support 21 may bemoved along the guide paths to bevel a front edge of the plank 11.Beveling of the front edge 30 forms a beveled surface 31-which is bestseen in FIGURES 2 and 3. With one or both of the guides 19, 20 defininga guide path which is other than parallel with the bed 10, the finishedbeveled sunface 31 is a surface which may be referred to as a compoundcurve. By this it is meant that the normally obtuse angle between thebeveled surface 31 and face 32-of the plank varies from one end of theplank to the other. Stated another way, the bevel angle varies along thelength of the plank. In addition, since the plank is curved (laterallyspeaking) or curvilinear before beveling as best seen in FIGURE 1, thebeveled surface 31 will follow this plank curve.

A plurality of rear clamp rods 35 are connected to the rear guide 20 atspacedintervals. The rear clamp-rods 35- eachproject through one of aseries of bores 36 formed transversely through the guide 20. Each of therear clamp rods 35 has an enlarged partially spherical head 37 which ispositioned in one of a series of guide counterbores 38. The heads 37coact with shoulders 39 in a self-aligning action. Each of the shoulders39 is formed between one of the bores 36 and the corresponding one ofthe counter bores 38. The coaction of the heads 37 and the shoulders 39pulls the guide 20 down against the plurality of rear gauge blocks 40when the mechanism is tightened.

In the preferred and disclosed arrangement each of the rear clamp rods35 extends through one of a series of longitudinally extending aperturesor openings preferably in the form of slots 41. The slots 41 are formedlongitudinally along each of the rear guage blocks 40. Coaction of thesurfaces defining the slots 41 and the rear clamp rods 35 providestransverse positioning of the gauge blocks 40. I

Each of the rear clamp rods 35 extend through an aperture 43 in the bed10. A suitable clamp means is provided to pull down on the rear clamprods 35 to urge the guide 20 against the gauge blocks 40, and in turntourge the gauge blocks 40 against the bed 10. In the disclosedarrangement the clamp means takes the form of a plurality of wing'nuts44, one of which is threaded onto each of the rear clamp bars 35.

A plurality of transversely extending feet 45 may be provided on each ofthe gauge blocks 40 to give the gauge blocks and the connected rearguide bar 20 transverse stability.

The front guide 19 is positioned vertically by a plurality of frontgauge blocks 50. The front gauge blocks 50 are interposed between thefront guide 19 and the bed 10. A plurality of transversely extendingslot-like apertures 51 are formed in the front portion of the bed 10.The slot apertures 51 receive a plurality of front clamp rods 52 whichmay, as disclosed, be at least partially formed of wire. Each of thefront clamp rods 52 has a head 53 which engages one of a plurality ofshoulders 54 in the front guide 19. The shoulders 54 correspond to theshoulders 39.

The front clamp rods 52 are fixed in position to tension the front guide19 against the front gauge blocks 50 by wing nuts 55. Each of the wingnuts 55 acts against one of a series of bridging spacers 56. Thebridging spacers 56 extend longitudinally with respect to the bed andtransversely with respect to the slot apertures 51. Each bridging spacertransmits forces from one of the front clamp rods 52 to the bed oneither side of each of the slot apertures 51.

The front guide 19 has sufiicient flexibility to assume the curvature ofany plank to be beveled. Preferably, the slot apertures 51 are ofsuflicient size so that the front clamp rods 52 are normal to the bed 10in any position of jig adjustment. The use of wire as a part of theclamp rod minimizes the slot required to obtain this desired objectiveand also places less dependency on the self-alignment feature of thehead counter bore arrangement.

The front gauge blocks 50, like the rear gauge blocks 40, each has aplurality of feet 57 to give the front guide 19 transverse stability.The front gauge blocks 50 pref erably each has a bar receiving aperturepreferably in the form of a longitudinal slot 58. The slots 58correspond in function to the slots41of the rear gauge blocks 40.

In the preferred and disclosed arrangement the rear guide 20 is disposedalong the center line of the bed 10; The rear guide is used both forbeveling the starboard plank 11 and the mirror image port plank 11A.This center line, mirror image construction permits each pair of planksto be beveled with only one set of gauge blocks 40 and one rear guidebar 20.

The principal beveling is on the outboard face of each plank. Someinboard, or reverse, beveling is often required. For inboardbeveling thestarboard plank 11-is 5 turned over and beveled on the portsid of thejigand the port plank 11A on the starboard side of thejig.

The method of ddjusting the jig When the jig is set up for a given planksuch as a plank for a lap-strake-boat, the guides 19, 20 are positionedin preselected locations to provide guiding'which will permit theattainment of a desired bevel curvature even though the bevel anglevaries gradually along the entire length of a plank.

First, sets of both the front gauge blocks 50 and the rear gauge blocks40 are selected. 'These sets of gauge blocks 40 may either take the formof a plurality of matched gauge blocks made to comprise a particularset, or a predetermined collection of gauge blocks selected from anassortment. It will be seen that with the latter technique it is noteven necessary to build a new set of gauge blocks when a boat isredesigned. Rather, one merely determines which blocks of the assortmentshould be used to make a set for a given new plank.

The rear clamp rods 35 are each passed into a slot 41 of the appropriateone of the rear gauge blocks 40. The clamp rods 35 are then passedthrough the bed apertures 43 and the wing nuts 44- are threaded intoposition to draw the rear guide 20 down against the blocks 40.Alternately and preferably, the wing nuts are threaded onto the clamprods 35 before the gauge blocks are positioned. They are merelytightened after the positioning. With this construction it is onlynecessary to loosen the Wing nuts to permit changing of sets of gaugeblocks. 7 The gauge blocks 40 may be of a uniform height, or they mayvary in height to position the guide 20 at any preselected height abovethe bed 10. In the preferred and disclosed arrangement adjustment of therear guide 20 is confined to a plane transverse to the bed 10. The frontguide 19 is adjusted both in a path paralleling the adjustment plane ofthe rear guide 20 and in a path transverse to the rear guide plane andthe bed 10. The vertical adjustment of the front guide 19 isaccomplished by essentially the same technique as is used in providingthe vertical adjustment of the rear guide'20.

Suitable gauging is necessary to provide transverse location. In thepreferred and disclosed arrangement transverse location is obtained bygauging from a plank fixed mthe work station. Therefore, before thefront guide 19 is located, the appropriate removable stop 13 is chosenand positioned. The removable stop is clamped in place,

FIGURE 5, by tightening the wing nut 61.

After the removable stop 13 has been positioned, the i plank 11 islocated in its work station by positioning it against stops 12, 13. Theclamps 14 are then tightened to hold plank '11 in position. A transversegauge block 64 is then positioned between plank 11 and one of the gaugeblocks 50. The clamp rod 52 for the transversely positioned front gaugeblock 50 is then tightened down to lock that gauge in the selectedtransverse position and to locklthe front guide rail 19 against thatgauge. This process is then repeated with'each of the front gauge blocks50 at each gauging station. Normally, the process will be started at oneend and the transverse gauge block then. moves sequentially from onegauge block to the next until the gauge block at the opposite end ispositioned. 'Similarly and obviously the transverse gauge block 64may beformed to provide spacing between the plank 11 and the front guide 19.

1 One of' the advantages of the invention is that one transverse gaugeblock 64 may be used for all planks. This gauge block serves to providea location for the front guide 19 at a uniform distance from the frontedge 30 of the plank 11.; Thus, the front guide: 19 assumes a transversecurvature which is identical to the curvature of'the front edge 30 ofthe plank to be beveled.

Once the jig is set up, one ormore plans of the-selected I size andcurvature are positioned sequentially on the bed '6 10. They aresequentially beveled by passing the router along the guides to bevel thefront edge 30 of each plank '11. After the desired numbers of a selectedsize plank have been beveled, the jig is readjusted and the next plank,or series of planks, are sequentially beveled.

With the described invention one jig is all that is required for massproduction of an infinite variety of lapstrake-boats. Further, oneassortment of gauge blocks and one assortment of removable stops may beprovided which will permit redesign of the boats being manu facturedwithout any new tooling being required. All that is needed is a new listof what gauge blocks comprise the new sets. While the invention has beendescribed with a great deal of particularity and detail, it is believedthat it essentially comprises an adjustable jig having first and secondguides, each of which are adjustable relative to a work bed, and to amethod and apparatus of adjusting such guides, as well as a method ofusing such jig.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination andarrangement of parts may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: Y

1; A jig comprising a bed, first and second meansto' locate and fixfirst and second planks respectively on the bed and thereby define firstand second work stations, first, second and third guides, meansadjustably securing the first guide to the bed between the first andsecond stations, and other means adjustably securing the second andthird guides to the bed on opposite sides of thefirst guide torespectively define compound paths of tool travel and with the firststation between the first and second guides and the second stationbetween the first and third guides, said second and third guide eachbeing adjustable to thecurve of the contour of the respective planks tobe beveled.

2. -A jig for beveling planks comprising, a bed, meansto locate and fixa plank on the bed and thereby define a1-work station, and first andsecond spaced adjustable guide means connected to the bed andselectively posi-' tionable on opposite sides'of said station to definea compound path of tool travel along said station, said firstguidemeansbeing adjustable to the curve of the contour of a plank to bebeveled.

3. A jig for beveling planks comprising, a bed, means to locate and fixa plank onthe bed and thereby define a work station, first and secondspaced adjustable guide means connected to the bed and selectivelypositionable on opposite sides of said station to define a compound pathof tool travel along said station, each of said guide means beingadjustable toward and away from said bed, and said first guide meansbeing adjustable transversely of the bed.

' 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the bed and each of the mentionedmeans are supported by a base and tilt-- in position on said portion andthereby define a work station, a straight guide and a curved guidepositioned on opposite sides of said station, a first set of gaugeblocks interposed between the straight guide rail and the bed topspacing the straight guide from the bed top, straight guide clampingmeans holding said straight guide and said first set of gauge blocks inposition relative to said bed, a second set of gauge blocks, the bedhaving a plurality of spaced slots formed therein and extendingtransversely with respect to said portion, and. curved guide clamp meansextending through said slots" "7 and fixing said curved guide and saidsecond set ofgauge blocks to the bed. 6. A jig for beveling plankscomprising, a work bed having a top including an elongated plank support:portion, clamp means carried by the bed adjacent said portion to hold aplank in position on said portion and thereby define a work station, astraight guide and a curved guide positioned on opposite sides of saidstation, a first set of gauge blocks interposed between the straightguide rail and the bed top spacing the straight guide from the bed top,straight guide clamping means holding said straight guide and said firstset of gauge blocks in position relative to said bed, a second set ofgauge blocks, the bed having a plurality of spaced slots formed thereinand extending transversely with respect to said portion, curved guideclamp means extending through said slots and fixing said curved guideagainst said second set of gauge blocks and said gauge blocks againstthe bed, and said curved guide clamp means including a flexible portionto facilitate adjusting movement of the curved guide.

I 7. A jig for beveling planks comprising, a work bed having a topincluding an elongated plank support portion, clamp means carried by thebed adjacent said portion to hold a plank in position on said portionand thereby define a work station, a straight guide and a curved guidepositioned on opposite sides of said sta tion, a first set of gaugeblock interposed between the straight guide rail and the bed top andspacing the straight guide from the bed top, straight guide clampingmeans holding said straight guide and said first set of gauge blocks inposition relative to said bed, a second set of gauge blocks each havingan aperture, a plurality of flexible strands fixed to said curved guide,each of said strands extending through one of said passages, the bedhaving a plurality of spaced slots formed therein and extendingtransversely with respect to said portion, each of said strandsextending through one of said slots, said slots having a widthsubstantially greater than the diameter of the strands to facilitateadjustment movement thereof, each of said gauge blocks of the second setat least partially straddling one of said slots, and curved guide clampmeans connected to said strands and fixing said curved guide and saidsecond set of gauge blocks to the bed.

a 8. A jig for beveling planks comprising, a work bed having a topincluding an elongated plank support portion, a plurality of clampscarried by the bed adjacent said portion to hold a plank in position onsaid portion and thereby define a work station, a straight guide and acurved guide positioned on opposite sides of said station, a first setof gauge blocks interposed between the straight guide and the bed tospace the straight guide from the bed top, straight guide clamping meansholding said straight guide and said first set of gauge blocks inposition relative to said bed, a second'set of gauge blocks each havingan aperture, a plurality of flexible strands fixed'to said curved guide,each of said strands extending through one of said apertures, the bedhaving a plurality of spaced slots formed therein and extendingtransversely with respect to said portion, each of said strandsextending through one of said slots,- each of said gauge'blocks of saidsecond set at least partially straddling one of said slots, and curvedguide clamp means connected to said strands and fixing said curved guideand said second set of gauge blocks to the bed.

9. The device of claim wherein the gaugeblocks of each set are ofvarying length.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein a curvilinear plank is clamped againstsaid portion and wherein the curved guide is a uniform transversedistance from the longitudinal edge of the plank nearest the curvedguide.

11. A jig for beveling curvilinear planks comprising a bed having a workface, locators connected to the face of the bed to position a plankthereon and thereby de finea workstation, clamps connected to the workface of the bed for securing a positioned plank thereon, a firststraight guide, a first set of gauge blocks disposed in spacedrelationship along one side of the station, each of the gauge blocks ofthe first set being generally normal to the work race of the bed andeach having a first end in .abutment with the work face of the bed, eachof the first set of gauge blocks having a second end in locatingabutment with the first guide, first releasable clamp means connectingthe first guide and the first set of gauge blocks to the bed andmaintaining the first guide and the first set of gauge blocks inposition along said one side of the station, a second guide, a secondset of gauge blocks disposed in spaced relationship along the other sideof the station, each of the gauge blocks of the second set beinggenerally normal to the work face of the bed and each having a first endin abutment with the work face of the bed, each of the second set ofgauge blocks having a second end in locating abutment with the secondguide, and second releasable clamp means connecting the second guide andthe second set of gauge blocks to the bed and maintaining the secondguide and the second set of gauge blocks in position along said otherside of the station, said second set of gauge blocks and said secondguides being adjustable laterally of the bed when the second clamp meansis released to adjust the second guide to the curve of the contour of aplank to be beveled.

12. A jig for beveling curvilinear planks comprising, a bed having awork face, first and second spaced sets of locators connected to theface of the bed to position first and second planks thereon and therebydefine first and second spaced work stations, clamps connected to thework face of the bed for securing positioned planks thereon, a firststraight guide, a first set of gauge blocks disposed in spacedrelationship between said stations, each of the gauge blocks of thefirst set being disposed generally normal to the work face of the bedand each having a first end in abutment with the work face of the bed,each of the first set of gauge blocks having a second end in locatingabutment with the first guide, first releasable clamp means connectingthe first guide and the first set of gauge blocks to the bed andmaintaining the first guide and the first set of gauge blocks inposition between said stations, a second guide, a second set of gaugeblocks disposed along a side of the first station and with the firststation between the first and second sets of gauge blocks, eachof thegauge blocks of the second set being generally normal to the work faceof the bed and each having a first end in abutment with the work face ofthe bed, each of the second set of gauge blocks having a second end inlocating abutment with the second guide, second releasable clamp meansconnecting the second guide and the second gauge blocks to the bed andmaintaining the second guide and the second set of gauge blocks inposition along said one side of said first station, said second set ofgauge blocks and said second guide being adjustable laterally of the bedwhen the second clamp means is released to adjust the second guide tothe curve of the contour of a plank to be beveled, a third guide, athird set of gauge blocks disposed in spaced relationship along oneside-of the second station and positioned with the second stationbetween the first and third guides, each of the gauge blocks of thethird set being disposed generally normal to the work face of the bedand each having a first end in abutment with the work face of thebed,each of said third set of gauge blocks having a second end inlocating abutment with the third guide, and third releasable clamp meansconnecting the third guide and the third set of gauge blocks to the bedand maintaining the third guide and the third set of gauge blocks inposition along said other side of the station, said third set of gaugeblocks and said third guide being adjustable laterally of the bed whenthe third releasable clamp means is released to adjust the third guideto the curve of the contour of a 76 plankto bebeveled.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein each of the gauge blocks has anopening extending from its first to its second end, and wherein saidclamp means comprises a plurality of elongated members each secured atone end to a guide and each disposed in one of said gauge block openingsand projecting through the bed, and wherein a nut is threaded on to thelower end of each of said members and in abutment with a lower face ofthe bed to hold the guides against the gauge blocks.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein each of the gauge blocks includes aplurality of outwardly directed stabilizing feet at its first end.

15. A mechanism for beveling planks comprising, a bed, clamp means tofix a plank to the bed and thereby define a work station, and first andsecond adjustable guide means selectively positionable on opposite sidesof said clamp means to define a compound path of tool travel along saidstation, and a router, said router having a support selectivelypositionable against both of said guide means, a slide bearing carriedby said support to facilitate guided movement along one of said guidemeans, and a pair of roller bearings carried by said support andengageable with the other of said guide means, said rollers having axesof rotation normal to one another and to the axis of the said otherguide means.

16. A router for use with a jig having spaced guides comprising, asupport having spaced slide support areas and a motor mountedtherebetween, a slide bearing carried by said support in one of saidslide support areas to facilitate guided movement along one of saidguides, a pair of roller bearings carried by said support in the otherslide support areas and engageable with the other of such guides, saidrollers having axes of rotation normal to one another and disposed in acommon plane transverse to the support, and a router tool and tool shaftmounted on and driven by the motor.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein each of the guide means include ametal guide rod and at least one of the guide rods is suflicientlyflexible to assume the curvature of -a plank to be beveled.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the second and third guides and thebed are disposed symmetrically on either side of the first guide.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said means securing one of theguides to the bed includes a plurality of gauge blocks and guideclamping means connecting each of said guides to the bed with aplurality of said gauge blocks between each such guide and the bedmaintaining each of the guides in predetermined spaced relationship withthe bed.

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